Europe’s toughest rally is set to roar into town
Petrolheads are in for a treat as “the toughest car rally in Europe” comes to Ayrshire this weekend.
Kames Motorsport Complex, near Muirkirk, hosts a stage of the gruelling Le Jog race on Monday, December 5 as crews cover a route starting at Land’s End and ending at John O’Groats.
Sports cars, ranging in age from 1953 to 1984, will be driven through rally stages and other tests along the route which will offer demanding wintry conditions.
Crews will arrive in Ayrshire after making their way along the west coast of England and Wales on Saturday, before heading from Chester to the Scottish borders on Sunday and staying overnight before beginning the final push to John O’Groats on Monday morning.
Enthusiasts from all over Europe are expected to come out in force to grab a rare glimpse of some of the classic gems, and encourage the competitors on their tough journey across the length of the UK.
The oldest of the 60 cars arriving at Kames will be a 1953 Ford 103E - affectionately referred to as The Flying Tortoise - drive by Welshman Ian Glass.
The first of 20 overseas entries will be German driver Andreas von Engelbrechten in a 1964 Volvo PV544, while Swiss racer Michael Gerber will arrive in a 1959 Austin Healey 3000, a favourite of rally fans the world over.
Among many favourite models from the past in the race will be the Lancia Fulvia, Lotus Cortina, SAAB 96, Alfa Romeo Guilia Sprint GTV, Porsche 911, Mercedes- Benz 450SLC, Datsun 240Z and many more.
The cars are scheduled to arrive at Kames at 11am on Monday, and admission to spectators will be free.